Cappadocia Extension
Highlights: A beautiful ride through the Taurus Mountains, and touring Cappadocia, with its fantastic landscpae and underground cities.
2008 Dates
September 28 - 30 (2 spaces left)
October 6 - 8
Itinerary - 3 Day Extension
Day 12 – Konya, Selcuk Caranaseral, Cappadocia
We begin with a long day of driving as we leave the coast and
drive through the Taurus Mountains and across the Anatolian Plains. Our
first stop is Konya, a very religious city and birthplace of both Sufism,
a mystical branch of Islam, and the Whirling Dervishes.
From Konya we continue to the Sultanhani Caravanserai. Caravanseries were public way stations built along the trade routes for the protection and comfort of traders. This huge, fortress-like structure was built in the 13th century by the Selcuk Sultan Aladdin Keykubad. All merchants, including foreigners, were allowed to stay here for up to 3 days at no charge. We continue to our hotel in Cappadocia. Night at hotel. (B,L,D)
The Mediterranean at dawn or a small cove at dusk were high points for
me…but I do savor the taste of regular life in another culture
and was thrilled that I got that taste. And of course: Cemil, Cemil,
Cemil. (the guide) I was dazzled, just watching him every day.
Lisa Brenneis,
Ojai California
Day
13 – Cappadocia
Here we find a truly exotic landscape. The earth is a soft volcanic rock
called “tuff” that has been carved by wind and water into
bizarre and fantastic shapes. Since the Stone Age, people have been creating
shelter in the rock, and the area is now a virtual museum of rock-carved
homes, churches, and even underground cities. Some of these cities are
up to eight stories deep and housed up to 20,000 people.
Once a Hittite stronghold (Cappadocia means “land of well-bred horses” in Hittite) the area was ignored by many of the subsequent conquerors. For many centuries it was the center of Christianity for the eastern Mediterranean, and there are over 1,000 churches, dating form the 9th to the 12th centuries, in the area. Most are cut from the soft tuff; yet many interiors contain the features of traditional Byzantine churches such as domes, barrel vaulted ceilings, and pillars that are strictly decorative. In some places the rock houses and “fairy chimneys” are still inhabited. Night at hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 14 – Cappadocia, Flight to Istanbul
After exploring more of Cappadocia we drive to Kayseri to catch an afternoon
flight to Istanbul, where you may catch a connecting flight home or extend
your stay in Istanbul. Upon arrival to Istanbul airport the tour ends. (B)